The Type 704 Rhön-class tankers are a series of replenishment oilers used by the German Navy to provide underway replenishment for its ships at sea. The two vessels in the class, Rhön and Spessart, were originally constructed for Libya by Kröger Shipyard in Rendsburg, West Germany as bulk acid carriers. They were acquired by the West German Navy in 1976 for conversion and entered service in 1977. The two ships are crewed by civilians. In 2019 it was announced by the German Navy that the ships are planned to be replaced in 2024.
The Type 704 replenishment ships, originally constructed as civilian tankers, have a full load displacement of 14,396 tonnes (14,169 long tons) and were measured at 6,103 gross register tons (GRT) and 10,800 tons deadweight (DWT).[1] They are 130.2 metres (427 ft 2 in) long with a beam of 19.3 metres (63 ft 4 in) and a draught of 8.7 metres (28 ft 7 in). They have capacity for 11,000 m3 (2,400,000 imp gal) of fuel oil and 400 m3 (88,000 imp gal) of water.[1]
The Rhön class are powered by one MaK 12-cylinder diesel engine turning one shaft with a controllable pitch propeller, rated at 5,880 kilowatts (7,890 hp). This gives the vessels in the class a maximum speed of 16 knots (30 km/h; 18 mph) and a range of 3,250 nautical miles (6,020 km; 3,740 mi) at 12 knots (22 km/h; 14 mph). The ships are civilian crewed and have a complement of 42. The ships have two positions for portable surface-to-air missiles.[1]
Two bulk acid tankers were ordered by Libya as Okene and Okapi from Kröger at their yard in Rendsburg, West Germany.[1][2]Okene was launched on 23 August 1974 and Okapi on 13 February 1975.[2] While still under construction, the two ships were acquired by the West German Navy in 1976 for conversion to naval replenishment tankers.[1][2]Okene was converted by Kröger and was renamed Rhön for a mountain range in Germany. Okapi was taken to Bremerhaven for conversion and renamed Spessart, also a mountain range in Germany. Both ships entered service in 1977.[1]
On 1 April 2009, pirates operating off the Somalian coast mistook Spessart as a commercial tanker and opened fire on it before attempting to board the ship. The attack was repelled and the pirates were chased by several naval ships, eventually being captured by a Greek frigate. The pirates were handed over to the German frigate Rheinland-Pfalz to be prosecuted.[3] In July 2018, it was announced that both vessels of the class were laid up due to heavy maintenance required to get them back into service and that Spessart's engine would require a complete overhaul.[4]
New replenishment oilers
The outdated tankers were planned to be replaced. The Bundestag approved money for this in 2021. The Federal Ministry of Defence made numerous mistakes in awarding the contract. The ministry did not put the contract out to tender throughout Europe, but only within Germany. Neighbouring countries such as Norway and Great Britain bought comparable ships for a fraction of the German price. The ministry justified this with strategic reasons. The contract for the construction of two new tankers was awarded to the Lürssen Shipyard (Naval Vessels Lürssen NVL), Bremen in July 2021. At that point, it was already clear that the price demanded by NVL was too expensive. In order to reduce costs, the Bundeswehr accepted poorer technical equipment for the ships: no second drive shaft was installed and the capacity of the tankers was reduced. The ships were at least 250 million Euros too expensive.[5][6]
^"Somali pirates pick on the wrong ship". The Independent. The Associated Press. 1 April 2009. Retrieved 21 September 2019.
^Fiorenza, Nicholas (9 July 2018). . janes.com. Archived from the original on 22 July 2018. Retrieved 21 December 2019.
^"Neue Tanker für die Marine: Deutlich überteuert für weniger Leistung? – Augen geradeaus!". augengeradeaus.net. Retrieved 21 April 2022.
^tagesschau.de. "Umstrittener Tankschiff-Kauf: Gericht sah die Vergabe kritisch". tagesschau.de (in German). Retrieved 21 April 2022.
References
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Rhön class tanker.
Couhat, Jean Labayle, ed. (1986). Combat Fleets of the World 1986/87. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN0-85368-860-5.
Saunders, Stephen, ed. (2009). Jane's Fighting Ships 2009–2010 (112 ed.). Alexandria, Virginia: Jane's Information Group Inc. ISBN978-0-7106-2888-6.
April 04, 2023
rhön, class, tanker, type, series, replenishment, oilers, used, german, navy, provide, underway, replenishment, ships, vessels, class, rhön, spessart, were, originally, constructed, libya, kröger, shipyard, rendsburg, west, germany, bulk, acid, carriers, they,. The Type 704 Rhon class tankers are a series of replenishment oilers used by the German Navy to provide underway replenishment for its ships at sea The two vessels in the class Rhon and Spessart were originally constructed for Libya by Kroger Shipyard in Rendsburg West Germany as bulk acid carriers They were acquired by the West German Navy in 1976 for conversion and entered service in 1977 The two ships are crewed by civilians In 2019 it was announced by the German Navy that the ships are planned to be replaced in 2024 Spessart entering New York HarborClass overviewBuildersKroger RendsburgOperators German NavyIn service1977 presentCompleted2Active2General characteristicsTypeReplenishment tankerTonnage6 103 GRT 10 800 DWTDisplacement14 396 t 14 169 long tons Length130 2 m 427 ft 2 in Beam19 3 m 63 ft 4 in Draught8 7 m 28 ft 7 in Installed power1 MaK 12 cylinder diesel engine 5 880 kW 7 890 hp Propulsion1 shaft controllable pitch propellerSpeed16 knots 30 km h 18 mph Range3 250 nmi 6 020 km 3 740 mi at 12 knots 22 km h 14 mph Capacity11 000 m3 390 000 cu ft fuel 400 m3 14 000 cu ft water Complement42 civilian Contents 1 Design and description 2 Ship list 3 Service history 4 New replenishment oilers 5 Citations 6 ReferencesDesign and description EditThe Type 704 replenishment ships originally constructed as civilian tankers have a full load displacement of 14 396 tonnes 14 169 long tons and were measured at 6 103 gross register tons GRT and 10 800 tons deadweight DWT 1 They are 130 2 metres 427 ft 2 in long with a beam of 19 3 metres 63 ft 4 in and a draught of 8 7 metres 28 ft 7 in They have capacity for 11 000 m3 2 400 000 imp gal of fuel oil and 400 m3 88 000 imp gal of water 1 The Rhon class are powered by one MaK 12 cylinder diesel engine turning one shaft with a controllable pitch propeller rated at 5 880 kilowatts 7 890 hp This gives the vessels in the class a maximum speed of 16 knots 30 km h 18 mph and a range of 3 250 nautical miles 6 020 km 3 740 mi at 12 knots 22 km h 14 mph The ships are civilian crewed and have a complement of 42 The ships have two positions for portable surface to air missiles 1 Ship list EditRhon class construction data 1 Pennant Name Builder Commissioned Homeport StatusA1443 Rhon ex Okene Kroger Rendsburg West Germany 23 September 1977 Wilhelmshaven In serviceA1442 Spessart ex Okapi 5 September 1977 Kiel In serviceService history EditTwo bulk acid tankers were ordered by Libya as Okene and Okapi from Kroger at their yard in Rendsburg West Germany 1 2 Okene was launched on 23 August 1974 and Okapi on 13 February 1975 2 While still under construction the two ships were acquired by the West German Navy in 1976 for conversion to naval replenishment tankers 1 2 Okene was converted by Kroger and was renamed Rhon for a mountain range in Germany Okapi was taken to Bremerhaven for conversion and renamed Spessart also a mountain range in Germany Both ships entered service in 1977 1 On 1 April 2009 pirates operating off the Somalian coast mistook Spessart as a commercial tanker and opened fire on it before attempting to board the ship The attack was repelled and the pirates were chased by several naval ships eventually being captured by a Greek frigate The pirates were handed over to the German frigate Rheinland Pfalz to be prosecuted 3 In July 2018 it was announced that both vessels of the class were laid up due to heavy maintenance required to get them back into service and that Spessart s engine would require a complete overhaul 4 New replenishment oilers EditThe outdated tankers were planned to be replaced The Bundestag approved money for this in 2021 The Federal Ministry of Defence made numerous mistakes in awarding the contract The ministry did not put the contract out to tender throughout Europe but only within Germany Neighbouring countries such as Norway and Great Britain bought comparable ships for a fraction of the German price The ministry justified this with strategic reasons The contract for the construction of two new tankers was awarded to the Lurssen Shipyard Naval Vessels Lurssen NVL Bremen in July 2021 At that point it was already clear that the price demanded by NVL was too expensive In order to reduce costs the Bundeswehr accepted poorer technical equipment for the ships no second drive shaft was installed and the capacity of the tankers was reduced The ships were at least 250 million Euros too expensive 5 6 Citations Edit Germany portal Energy portal a b c d e f g Saunders 2009 p 294 a b c Couhat 1986 p 166 Somali pirates pick on the wrong ship The Independent The Associated Press 1 April 2009 Retrieved 21 September 2019 Fiorenza Nicholas 9 July 2018 German Navy lacks at sea refuelling capability janes com Archived from the original on 22 July 2018 Retrieved 21 December 2019 Neue Tanker fur die Marine Deutlich uberteuert fur weniger Leistung Augen geradeaus augengeradeaus net Retrieved 21 April 2022 tagesschau de Umstrittener Tankschiff Kauf Gericht sah die Vergabe kritisch tagesschau de in German Retrieved 21 April 2022 References Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to Rhon class tanker Couhat Jean Labayle ed 1986 Combat Fleets of the World 1986 87 Annapolis Maryland Naval Institute Press ISBN 0 85368 860 5 Saunders Stephen ed 2009 Jane s Fighting Ships 2009 2010 112 ed Alexandria Virginia Jane s Information Group Inc ISBN 978 0 7106 2888 6 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Rhon class tanker amp oldid 1101790666, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
